Federal File

New Leadership

House Republicans elected a few new faces to their leadership last
week and vowed to make education a top priority.

As expected, Rep. Robert L. Livingston, R-La., was chosen to succeed
retiring Rep. Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., as speaker of the House, a
selection that must be confirmed by a vote of the full House in
January. As Appropriations Committee chairman, Mr. Livingston has
presided over several large increases to the education budget in the
past three years. ("Educators Keep Tabs
on Leadership Turmoil," Nov. 18, 1998.)

Rep. Dick Armey of Texas, one of the leading voices for federally
funded vouchers, hung onto his post as majority leader against three
challengers. Rep. J.C. Watts, the Oklahoman who is the only
African-American Republican in Congress, ousted Rep. John A. Boehner of
Ohio to become GOP conference chairman. Mr. Watts has drawn fire from
black Democrats for his support of vouchers for poor students.

But some Republicans have speculated that the new leaders will not
push voucher-related measures, in order to avoid replays of contentious
debates that took place in the just-concluded congressional
session.

After-School Boost

About 250,000 children will soon be able to attend after-school
activities funded by the federal 21st Century Community Learning Center
Program.

During a Nov. 12 White House ceremony, President Clinton announced
183 new 21st Century grants, which will go to 600 schools in 44 states.
The grants, totaling $60 million, were included in this year's federal
budget, which quintupled funding for the program from $40 million to
$200 million a year.

Mr. Clinton emphasized, however, that he's far from meeting his
child-care goals. "The truth is that when it comes to raising our
children in this new era, we are not there yet," he said, referring to
new data showing that, during fiscal 1997, child-care subsidies served
1.25 million of 10 million eligible children. Last January, the
president proposed a $7.5 billion increase in federal spending on child
care, but Congress approved only minor increases for care for
preschool-age children.

Responding to Mr. Clinton, Rep. Bill Goodling, R-Pa., the chairman
of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, said he hopes any
new child-care plans will "respect the needs of moms and dads who
choose to stay at home to care for their children."